What an amazing and wonderful experience. Did the tasting menu during Maine restaurant week! This place is in the back room of the restaurant and David the chef cooks all the food. They started with cocktail hour at 6:15 with an amazing cocktail. Then we did the courses and wine pairing to go with it. David came out occasionally and explained different courses. The service was impeccable and they were very knowledgeable. The food was amazing my favorite was the seafood course with lobster, mussel, haddock and a scallop. The appetizers and even the bread were amazing. Overall 10/10 experience and such an amazing cozy vibe! read more

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Delicious, gorgeous presentation, friendly staff.... I could go on and on. Recommend sitting at the counter and watching the chefs prepare meals. It is a well oiled machine!! read more

Top Notch seafood oriented restaurant in Portland. I had the salmon/crab chef special... Did not disappoint. read more

David's Opus Ten - Salmon/crab entrée - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

Attended the 7 course Chef's Dinner for restaurant week. Incredible food, incredible value, great cocktails, and several courses were presented by the chef himself. Highly recommend this experience if you have the chance to attend! read more

David's Opus Ten - Restaurant week menu - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

Ok what else can I tell you about this place other than it was amazing. This portion of the restaurant is nestled in the back away from the hustle and bustle of the front section of the restaurant. There is a reason for this because you can order 7 or 9 part meals here that are served in installments and each comes with a description of how it is cooked and prepared. This was half of the fun with this evening ... we came in with a party of 9 and were all excited to see what the next course would bring and what pairing of wine would go with each. We started off with a cured meat and aged cheese platter freshly shaved and laid on the plate for all to pick from. Then we moved into a mushroom assortment that was sitting on a puff pastry and served with a shooter of mushroom bisque with a wine froth on top that was both rich and decadent. We then moved into a lobster and cream sauce dish that was cooked perfectly and served so tender when lobster can be tough at times ... delicious and tasty. We then moved into the next serving of a quail egg stuffed ravioli dish that came el dente until they poured a hot cream sauce over the top to cook the ravioli and it was to die for. We then moved into something a bit lighter with a martini glass filled with a apple sorbet with an infused vodka poured over the top that brought the dish to taste just like an apple pie. Then came the lamb where they pan seared it and glazed it with a balsamic reduction and it was both rich and flavorful. Then an assortment of desserts including an irish cream bite sized dessert that I could have eaten seventy five of! Each of the dishes were paired with a red, white and even a port wine in the end to top it all off and cleanse the palette. The service was amazing. The ambiance was incredible. This is a place you would want to nestle a little funds away for though because with the wine it is a pretty expensive eat but, if you are looking for a place to bring that someone special on a special occasion, then David's Opus Ten is a Win/Win deal. You can tell that David and his staff love what they do and quite frankly I love what they do also! read more

Talk about an identity crisis. I knew we were in for a sub par experience when the waiter, who looked like he was 21, brought out the first wine and said "Yeah, um.... this is a French wine, from the uhhh, 'law-ray' valley". I silently shook my head. So let's start with the good. We did the 7 course tasting menu with wine pairing. The food itself was not that bad. Everything was well plated and tasted great... however, there was nothing that I got excited about. It was a safe menu. They also took their time, which I though was nice... it felt like a leisurely relaxed meal. And the staff was very nice, although, here is where things went bad. If the point of Opus Ten is to create a differentiated high end dining experience, then the staff here is doing the kitchen a clear disservice. They are really nice to be sure, but woefully inexperienced to be doing this sort of thing. I cannot begin to count the number of technical errors: bread was only brought out well into the 2nd course, not bringing out the right silverware for each course (presented with soup and no spoon), clearly not knowing anything about the wines.... and it just went on and on. Also, this place shares a crappy bathroom with the main restaurant. All these little things distract from the experience. David, here's a tip: if you want to do this kind of concept, where a meal for 2 goes well into the $200 category, then train your staff. They were nice, eager, and willing to learn from all appearances. Teach them. read more

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It's taken me days to settle on a star rating for David's Opus 10. There are so many things about this place that deserve 5 starts. It was truly excellent, but there are enough caveats that require mentioning that, in the end, I can only give 4 stars. It would take me too long to walk you through each of the 9 courses, not to mention the wine pairings and beautiful charcuterie, cheese, and breads that began the meal, so I'll just describe it in broad strokes. Everything was artful, with obsessive attention to detail. The server was more of a tour guide, walking us through the ingredients of everything he presented, including their origins and how they were prepared. The atmosphere was beautiful. It's a small room with an open kitchen. The chefs were as inviting and friendly as the hostess and server. This was truly a holistic dining experience. Here are the caveats: * The food was very, very rich. By the end of the meal I had some funny things going on with my body. Hy heart was beating fast and I was getting warm. That night, I had trouble sleeping, and I woke up in the middle of the night feeling sick with my heart racing. Other people I ate with had similar things happen. I actually wondered if I didn't have a minor case of food poisoning, but I think it was just due to the richness of the food. * Those small plates sure are small! Sure, there's nine of them, but each one was hardly more than a mouthful. For example, the gnocchi course was literally 4 gnocchi. I understand how to appreciate food like this. It's about enjoying the aspects of the food, not stuffing yourself with it, but I'm also a firm believer that even the fanciest of meals should be satisfying, and I found that 4 courses in to our 2.5 hour meal, I was still hungry. Give me *something* I can sink my teeth into. We asked for more bread, and that helped, but I would have liked the size of the courses to ramp up a bit instead of them all remaining tiny throughout. * Truffles truffles truffles. I'm not a fan of truffles. I know they are a delicacy and some people would chop of their arms for a taste of them, but I don't really care for them, and they were in at least 3 of the dishes. Overkill. This is a matter of taste, but ultimately it made it slightly difficult for me to enjoy 1/3 of the courses. Fois gras, which I also don't love, was also in two of the courses. * It was expensive. The 9 course meal was $65 a person, and the wine pairing was $45 for the standard, and $65 for the "reserve." We went with the standard, and all of the selections were great, but the quantity of wine amounted to about 2.5 glasses. That's $18 a glass! For 4 people it came to around $440. Ooph. Now, the price does arguably befit the quality of the experience, however, for that much money I shouldn't walk away with this list of caveats. So if you're feeling flush, go to David's Opus 10. It's worth it. It's one of the most extraordinary restaurants in Portland, or in Maine for that matter. Just be aware of what you're getting yourself into. read more

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Great spot and great staff! Glad i made the reservations as friday night was hopping! Good wine list to choose from. Had the special of the charcuterie board to start and it did not let down! I went for the duck and my wife had the haddock with crab and both were awesome! Yes, we shared. The risotto was on point! My son had the bacon pizza and i had a slice and it was good too. read more

We've recently been on a "tasting menu" kind of kick - eating at Natalies at the Camden Harbor Inn and the White Barn Inn in Kennebunkport. So when I heard about Opus Ten I thought we'd give it a go. We made a kind of last minute reservation (you need to give a credit card to make your reservation) and showed up at 6:30pm (the only time available on the Friday night). We were offered the counter/table overlooking the kitchen which we happily accepted. What happened next blew my mind. After each course we were both "Wow - I think that was my favorite!" and then the next course would be even better. We did the 9 course menu with the reserve wine pairings (plus the optional but totally delicious pre-dinner aperitif and a delicious after dinner cocktail) - yes it was pricy but SO good that I was back there a week later for dinner with a friend and I'm already planning our next dinner! Some highlights - mushroom soup (that description doesn't do it justice, it was mushroom deliciousness on steroids), foie gras butter on our waffles (seriously - someone needs to start selling foie gras butter to slather on hot toast), the crispy little fries under the peppered salmon sashimi with the lobster butter that was so good I wanted to cry, mint and pomegranate sorbet (usually I think sorbet is kind of stupid but this was cleansing yet intense at the same time) and pretty much everything else we ate. Oh - the gnocchi - how could I forget them? Best gnocchi I've ever eaten. If you're at all into food/cooking then the table overlooking the kitchen is awesome - Chef Bo and Matt were super interesting/friendly describing each course. The restaurant itself is a really great space - intimate, romantic - perfect for a special occasion, romantic date or just because you want to eat some phenomenal food. Allow a good two hours (and book Homerunners to drive you and your car home because after all of the wine pairings you shouldn't be driving!) In conclusion - sorry for the rambling - this is an AMAZING restaurant - one of the things that I most enjoyed was that it's definitely fine dining but without the excessive formality/stuffiness of other restaurants we've recently experienced. You don't need to wear a jacket (although most people were fairly smartly dressed) - Chef Bo even suggested picking up a quail leg to bite the meat off the bone. Fine dining with the perfect amount of friendliness. read more

David's Opus Ten - David's Opus Ten in Portland, ME. Apologies for digging into the sorbet before remembering to snap a picture - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

For Portland Maine this is fine dining. It's an excellent experience for a tasting menu and it's very intimate and fun. David is even there to talk to the guests about food. Pros- The lobster is incredible and so soft and delicious. The sorbet in between courses is a welcome palate cleanse. The mushrooms on top of the gnudi are wonderfully earthy. Cons- The blueberry butter for the bread is far too sweet. The duck breast was tough and I barely ate any since I couldn't cut into pieces. The gnudi was too heavy for a second course and I felt the portions were too large in general. Overall it's a good experience with attentive staff. The room can be quite cold though and I'd recommend coming very hungry. read more

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This place has the best meatloaf! Very lively and welcoming. Make sure you make a reservation I think this is a hot spot! Must be the place to be:) they have outside seating and inside and I am very thankful they have bar seating. I normally don't eat at the bar. But the food smelled so good I had to bend my rules lol I asked Dan at Noth Point another fabulous place, could I get meatloaf anyplace and he pointed me to David's. Thank you Dan you are right! David has the best meatloaf ever. You all know I like my food to come out hot and this food was steaming in the center of the meatloaf. You know the meatloaf is like home with a dash of style. It was serve over mashed potatoes surrounded by zucchini and yellow squash and all pippin hot. Very seldom do I turn down desert I feel it is part of the culinary experience, however this time I did. I didn't turn it down because I was watching my waistline ill let other people do that;) I turned it down because the serving size of meatloaf was so large! I also got a taste of my friends clam chowder and with that I got a tast of home Maryland/ DC it had a little heat to it without the old bay lol. If you are ever in Portland and you want a lively atmosphere you need to give this place a try. If you don't want to sit at the bar make a reservation: until next time be safe. VJ read more

Absolutely amazing! The little bread knots are so yummy! The apps are all great, especially the bao buns, and the salads are great too. Got the open faced seafood ravioli and it was excellent! Apparently it's a fan favorite that they keep on the menu all year! It was rather heavy, but it had a generous amount of shrimp, scallops and lobster, and you could tell everything was all very fresh. The Brussels sprouts were good too! I didn't attempt dessert after since I was so full from dinner. I can't wait to come back! read more

Our evening began with what can only be called the celebrity dining welcome. Upon arrival, the hostess quickly whisked us away from the large crowd filling David's Monument square. Not a seconds delay for us. It is barely a few steps, but Opus 10 really is an entirely different dining experience. The menu is all about surprise. On weekend nights there are only two choices to make. Would you like a cocktail or aperitif before dinner and would you like the very good or the excellent wine pairing. This is then followed by nine delightful courses. It really is more like attending a fantastic dinner party than a traditional restaurant. Essential to all of this joy are the brilliant, welcoming, and entertaining waitstaff. Highlights from our feast: A wild mushroom Madeira cream soup served in a beautiful demitasse. It made me think of a savory insanely rich latte. Poached lobster in a sauce made with butter and a hint of vanilla bean. Unbelievably tender and perfectly balanced. A delightful reinvention of fried chicken and waffles. Substituting crispy quail and toping the tender waffle with foie gras butter. Course after course delighted and surprised. We left feeling satiated in both body and spirit. read more

What a fantastic dining experience. The chefs at Davids new restaurant are both creative and knowledgable, creating somewhat of a tasteful adventure. David Turin does it again. He and this new, daring restaurant uphold and progress the Portland, ME dining legacy--great food, great people, great times. read more

David's Opus Ten - So tasty--pallet cleansing course! - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

Really good food and excellent service. There are 2 options for each course, one of which I always vegetarian (yay!). Offerings ranged from very good to outstanding, and were often delightfully whimsical (fizzy grapefruit!). The stand-out dish to me was the yam "brisk", I couldn't get enough of that. Seasonal menu though, so your offerings may vary, The staff was interactive and engaging in a very genuine way. They loved to talk about their food and wine and to bring you on their journey. This certainly added to the experience. Great use of a special space inside David's other restaurant. read more

Lindsey, the bartender, was an absolute pleasure! Such a gem, was so patient and personable. Great establishment in general. Great for a date night, lots of happy couples in a dim-lit atmosphere with a nice cocktail menu and beautiful plating. read more

Zero complaints- a meal full of fresh, bright clean flavors. The best appetizer was crab and avocado caprese salad- I die with happiness. The runner up was the grilled pineapple salad. Never in my life would I think of pairing pineapple and goat cheese- but it worked- in the best way possible. Entrees: we tried the lobster ravioli; which was really tasty. And the mushroom ravioli was great- rich with lots of truffle flavor. Not a single complaint. read more

We had the tasting menu. It was fabulous. Great creative cuisine in Portland. Perfect choice for a romantic, rare dinner.

I really wanted to give it five stars. Beautiful place. Great patio. Wonderful food. Why four stars instead of five? For a steak lover like me, if you are going to do a good sauce and have great food, why no steak choices? Get rid of the poor cut and put a filet on the menu, worthy of the fine dining you are trying to create. Other than the poor (none) steak selection, we had an awesome lunch there today. And I would not hesitate to recommend this restaurant. We will return. read more

David's is a true gem in a city chock full of amazing dining options. Everything on the menu is prepared to perfection. Presentation is clean. David himself comes around to each table at the end of the meal and introduces himself; this is a wonderful way to end the meal. He truly has a passion for the food he creates and the satisfaction that it brings his customers. My girlfriend and I have been twice now and each meal has been spectacular. We will be going back again. read more

This place is the bees knees. It is expensive but appropriately priced as you get the absolutely best service you will ever have, not to mention the food is beyond awesome. Chef David's love for food is evident and he is a fun and entertaining maestro. Be prepared to spend 4 hours and the wine pairing is recommended. read more

Amazing service and very inviting warm atmosphere. Out of 7 courses 4 were quite amazing, one was a little surprising but the deserts failed to imported. Impeccable service, great wine pairings and delightful food. read more

They screwed up our reservation and then put us in the regular restaurant. We had guests from out of town and the hostess tried to pass it off as our mistake. Very disappointing. read more

For dinner our first night in Portland, we came to Opus Ten, which is set in a more intimate, more upscale room in the back of David's. To be honest, it can be a bit too quiet sometimes, as we were alone for part of the meal, and only one other party showed up, but it's nice to have your own cozy dining experience that feels a bit removed. Our waiter was an earnest young fellow who I felt was a bit too green for the job. While he got all the menu items down, it was clear from his presentation that his knowledge of the items didn't go beyond what he had been told to say about it, and the one time we asked a question about the food, he didn't know the answer. He also forgot a change of silverware, one of the wine pairings (which we reminded him about), and my wife's iced tea order (which we just didn't bother with - it wasn't on the bill, so he forgot about it entirely). Frankly, I think it is a bit audacious to call a more exclusive part of your restaurant your 'opus' and then staff it with a waiter who was clearly in over his head. It's also the main reason that I docked the restaurant an extra star, because the food here overall is very good. We went with the tasting menu, with a wine pairing for myself to split between the two of us. The meal started off with a slices of serrano (cut off the leg in the dining room) with manchego - a nice Mediterranean start to the meal. I really liked the ham, but 4 thin slices for 2 people definitely felt a bit stingy. Next up was a vichyssoise served with fried avocado and and fresh crab meat. The crab was incredibly good (as was all the seafood here - very fresh), but I liked the fried avocado, which was lighter than tempura and provided a nice texture against the soup and the meat, both of which are softer bites. The lobster served next was perfectly poached in butter, served atop some risotto and greens dashed with a tad of citrus dressing, giving it a little tartness to offset the decadence of the lobster. The last seafood course was the haddock, served with mussels in clam broth. A very seaworthy dish, with the haddock very flaky and the clam broth accentuating the taste of the ocean in the dish. Again, I felt the mussels were a bit light (there were a few, which really made it feel more like a garnish), and in clam broth, I thought a few more mollusks couldn't hurt. The palate cleanser was next - a strawberry sorbet served in house-made cucumber vodka. Definitely a good cleanser, but I thought serving it before the last savory course was a bit misplaced, and while the vodka was well-executed, serving along with a wine pairing is an easy way to get tanked quickly. The meat course was an ale-braised pork butt (shredded very nicely when you pull at it), served with a delicious cornbread fritter (it looks like a risotto ball) and a bright glaze, along with strawberry ketchup. We finished up with Palmiers, a light pastry that paired very well against the strawberries and sweet ricotta (which was a tad heavier than whipped cream but not as heavy as regular ricotta). We were also served Godiva chocolates (that felt a tad lazy - whenever I've been served chocolate truffles for dessert, they are always house-made) along with chocolate bark (solid) and bunyols de vent, which were the best of the last dessert combination. The wine pairings were pretty solid, and based on the explanatios given, there's a good amount of thought that goes into the selection of what to pair. Some of the pours were a bit on the bigger side, which would have been appreciated if I was drinking a solo glass and not a full tasting. In all, the dinner experience was very good - nice ambiance, a tasting menu well-suited to the environs of the restaurant - but the greenhorn service, as well as a few kinks on the menu, make this a place worth coming to, but not one I would rush back to over other choices. It's a 3.5-star joint in my book, but I am rounding down. read more

For $65 a person you get a seven course tasting menu that show cases not only the freshest and tastiest ingredients, but also prepared and cooked to perfection. The wine pairing at $35 per person is also amazing. We sat at the chefs table and was able to see our plates come to life and hear the stories behind each dish. The service was firefly, courteous. Overall the best $100 I have ever spent on an epicurean adventure! Thank you opus ten! read more

One of the best meals I have had, hands down. Everything on the menu was clean, fresh and well plated. I was a little taken aback by the front of the house when I first walked in, but it was all erased when we were led to the back of the house for a lovely intimate evening. Chef David came out several times to talk through the courses and answer any questions and they get bonus points for seamlessly subbing out vegetarian options for my two companions on the fly as we forgot to mention in the reservation. Top notch service and food, cannot recommend enough. read more

My wife and I had the pleasure of dinning here for her birthday. We did the carnivore tasting menu with the reserve wine pairing. We had impeccable service. Our server took time to educate us about the restaurant, the chef, and the menu. We were told about every wine in detail, and educated about every course we tried. The food itself was simply amazing. Every course was a home run. My wife and I had a hard time thinking of anytime we have had a better overall dining experience. Plus you cannot beat the price. I cannot wait to go back when they change the tasting menu next. read more

Best restaurant in all of Portland! Make sure to get the wine pairings. The wait staff could not have been nicer and more attentive and the food was creative and satisfying. If I could afford it, I would go every week as it is extremely expensive. Figure around $200 per person. You must be a true foodie to enjoy that lavish of a meal. read more

Went to Davids for a night off from a big meal (last night's fabulous Back Bay Grill, which we visit every year, is a must!). Thought we would have a nice burger & salad. Food was ok but David's seemed to be in need of an update: seemed a bit dirty. Also, I come to Maine every year (camp visiting day) with anticipation of ordering the crisp, delicious Allegash White local brew... at David's it was NOT COLD, and therefore far from the usual thirst-quenching experience. Also - the classic rock soundtrack was all the music I love; but the sound system is so in need of updating that I was cringing at listening to my beloved Tom Petty & Neil Young through speakers that sounded like they were from the same era as the music. read more

We dined there on a Wednesday evening. The setting was indeed intimate and very comfortable. The server was extremely knowledgeable and professional yet not pretentious. I had the seven course meal. Each course was perfectly apportioned for my needs. I'm usually afraid of tasting menus.(.too much food). This was just perfect, and each course delightful. Two of the diners in our party chose the 9 courses, one was a lobster risotto. I had a bite and it was divine! Loved it all. read more

The menu was creative, tasty, and no, everything didn't taste the same. Quite the opposite actually. And the wine pairings were awesome, and tasty. I'm sorry for whatever personal grudge the other guy has because it was a fantastic experience both times we have been so far. We left stuffed and happy both times and will be back. read more

I've never written a yelp review before, but after our experience at Opus Ten I simply couldn't hold back. What a fantastic experience! Walking in through David's (another favorite) to the small back room that is Opus Ten started the evening with a curious allure. The restaurant has its own open kitchen and makes the room feel very special and intimate. From the moment we sat down, our experience was -- in a word -- sumptuous. No detail was left unattended. The progression of courses (we ate there on a Saturday night and had a nine course menu) was well-paced but not overwhelming. I found myself marveling at the delicate creations that kept landing in front of me -- seared local sea scallops with smoked salmon and bowfin caviar, sweet and savory grilled quail served on buttered toast with cranberry-pear gastrique... wow! Wine pairings were thoughtfully explained by a knowledgeable sommelier. David served the intermezzo himself and happily entertained our questions and (at this point!) rave reviews. Totally unexpected but it absolutely contributed to the personality and intimacy of our evening! For all the complexity and subtlety of each course, at the end of the night the meal 'fit' together just right. What a special experience for which we will most definitely return. read more

I ate here on a week night with friends. I didn't want to hold any expectations because I'm not a fan of David's or 388. Really safe food straight from the CIA book. Tuna tartare with a gallon of chemical truffle oil? No thanks. This is nothing more than David's menu in smaller portions. What is he thinking? Everything tasted the same. Nothing stood out, no creativity. It was like a first year culinary student trying to do a tasting menu. It is like he's doing dishes from 1994. He should stick with his big food with syrupy sauce and garlic smashed potatoes. The server, David- a bald guy, was smarmy and had a peculiar way about him. We all agreed he smelled homeless? Kind of musty and icky. The wine pairings were amateur as well. All pulled from popular wine magazines. Nothing creative or tasty. Grape juice wine. They need to put much more thought in to their wine list. And menu for that matter. Never again. Sorry David. Retirement time. read more

We love tasting menus and have tried many in New York and other foodie cities. We love the novelty and surprise of giving yourself over to the creativity of the chef. We recently enjoyed David Chang's grated frozen foie gras and other imaginative offerings at Momofuku Ko. So I went to Opus 10 with a lower expectation and was most pleasantly surprised to find that David is aiming to provide a creative, high end tasting experience here in Portland. His Opus 10 is inside his other restaurant. We were led to a small elegant room at the rear with its own separate kitchen. The atmosphere is quite and the other guests were dressed to suggest a special night out. And that it was. A whole serrano ham on a stand was carved tableside and some aged manchego with house cured olives teased our appetite as we decided between 7 or 9 courses. All sounded too good to pass up so we went with 9 courses for $65. The first course blew me away. Morel and hedgehog mushroom gratin served with a capuccino of intense mushroom madeira broth with a truffled foam. It reminded me off a dish I had twice at the now defunct l'Atelier de Joel Robuchon at the Four Seasons in New York. There were no dishes that I did not finish and some where I wanted to lick the plate.Quail egg ravioli in foie gras butter sauce, Beurre Monte poached lobster, lamb with the most intense jus ever. The bread basket of delicious small offerings was presented often and necessary to mop up all the delicious sauces. After the first course I wondered if I had not overestimated my appetite but the novelty of a completely different and unique festival of presentation and taste in the next small plate was just irresistible. I felt replete at the end, not overstuffed. The menu is different every time based on what ingredients are available. I know that when I go back I can be surprised all over again. read more

Great food and delightful staff! I'm ashamed to say that David's was not the first choice for me or my friends to celebrate a friends birthday last night, but it should of been. Thank you to the staff for being so accommodating on such short notice. The food was great and the staff was friendly and helpful. You took what started off as a bad night and turned it around for us. read more

Read the reviews here and on Open Table, and the restaurant lived up to its almost 5 star rating. The food was superb! I had their rare tuna entree and my wife had their crusted salmon. Both included perfect sides and even their bread basket was excellent. We will come back read more

A complete nuts to bolts chefs tasting experience. Very knowledgeable wait staff with enjoyable anecdotes about the food and wine. Intimate, delicious and entertaining. read more

Excellent all round, a great experience, we sat at the counter watching the chefs at work.

Had a three course meal. The only thing that tasted like the money I paid was the crab cakes my filet was mundane as well as my wife's haddock with crab stuffing. If you're in the area go downtown to the grill room it's the same price but ten times the quality and taste. read more